New Participation, Academic Rules Among Changes for Upcoming Season.

Indiana high school hockey players will face a higher bar for postseason eligibility during the 2026–27 season, with changes to participation requirements, academic standards and roster deadlines taking effect across the state.

The most significant change is an increase in the minimum participation requirement for players hoping to compete in the State Invitational Tournament.

Players must now participate in at least 75% of their team's scheduled games, up from 60% last season. The same 75% threshold applies to scheduled crossover games used for postseason qualification. Team Indiana blackout weekends are excluded from the calculation.

The increase could have a noticeable impact on players who also compete for travel hockey programs.

Double-rostering remains allowed, but the higher participation threshold gives players considerably less room to miss high school games because of travel tournaments, showcases or other scheduling conflicts. A player could previously miss roughly four out of every 10 high school games and remain above the 60% requirement. At 75%, that margin is significantly smaller, allowing for missing two out of every 10 due to rounding up.

For families trying to balance both schedules, choosing which team takes priority could become a much bigger part of the season — particularly as postseason eligibility comes into focus.

Academic eligibility is also getting a more defined statewide standard.

Beginning with the semester ending in December 2026, players must have earned at least a 2.0 GPA, or its equivalent, during the previous semester to remain eligible for ISHSHA competition. Players must also continue to meet any additional academic standards established by their school, league or individual program.

Roster management will also become more important as the season progresses.

No players may be added to an ISHSHA roster after Nov. 1. Programs with both varsity and junior varsity teams then face another important date two weeks later, when JV rosters lock on Nov. 15.

Prior to that deadline, eligible players may move between the varsity and JV levels. Once the roster locks, teams have much less flexibility to shift players between the two as they prepare for the remainder of the season.

Players who appear in 10 varsity games also become varsity-only and can no longer return to the JV roster, making early-season call-ups something coaches will have to monitor closely.

With 27 varsity teams expected to play in 2026–27, top-ranked JV programs could once again find themselves ending the season competing against varsity teams for a 1A state championship.

For the fourth consecutive season, the highest-ranked JV teams can be moved into the varsity 1A State Invitational Tournament field when needed to complete the bracket. The format itself is not new, but the number of varsity teams competing this season makes it particularly relevant.

Taken together, the changes place more responsibility on players, families and coaches to track eligibility throughout the season.

The move from 60% to 75% participation could prove to be the most consequential, particularly for players trying to compete on both high school and travel teams. Combined with the new 2.0 GPA requirement and firm November roster deadlines, there will be considerably less room for eligibility issues to be addressed late in the season.

For more information, find the updated bylaws at ISHSHA's website.